oh, i'm proud to be an american

Now what I'm about to say may sound slightly ridiculous, but is nonetheless true. I have recently become acutely aware of the fact I speak English (and the fact I am an American). Yes, absolutely shocking, I know. But I speak English fluently. Without, for the most part, errors. And effortlessly.
This, for someone who is in France, is both a burden and excellent. It's the first because everywhere I go, people respond in broken English. They pretend like just because I speak French with an American accent that I can't get any further than "je prends..." Which means "I'll have...(a croissant! a chocolate bread! a crepe with nutella!)" Newsflash France, I'm here to learn. On the otherhand, my innate knowledge of English also seems to an enviable ability. There are posters in every subway that read "learn wall street English" and a particularly funny one with a nurse and a man with bruises that reads "stop massacring English, take care of it!" My host sister was just talking the other night of how jealous she was of our English skills, how she was afraid we would judge her for hers (I'm equally envious of her French).
But the most bizzare part for me is that almost nobody in the US thinks like that about any foreign language. Yes, Spanish is useful (though manyvbelieve those who speak it in our country should learn English (not to say that I do and goodness knows I'm not trying to make a political statement but I'm trying to make vast generalizations about a very large country)), and Mandarin is relevant, but in no way do most Americans covet the abilty to speak a foreign language.
I think it might stem from the fact that good ol' 'Merica has decided that English is the dominant language, the popular kid in middle school. While she is surrounded by equally pretty friends, for some reason is the most popular. This metaphor can extend even further - everyone wants to watch what she's watching, listen to what's on her iPod, and wear the same clothes she does. Most movies here are American, for the most part the music in every restaurant/store/bar/club/supermarket I've been in has been American, and they even have American Apparel here. I'm not kidding or exaggerating. American culture is very, very pervasive, which, in a place as proud as France, is still bizzare to me. Luckily, it helps me navigate my way through French culture as I am an expert on American culture (unlike on French culture).

Speaking of, I should probably do a quick update on real concrete life things.
1. Classes continue. And are still exhausting. The Sorbonne is kicking my Tufts butt.
2. Many trips planned. I leave next Thursday for Madrid/Barcelona! More details later.
3. People in France don't cover food they put in their fridge. I think this is weird. They also don't do dryers. Or central heating.
4. I had class in the Louvre today. I sort of felt like I was making a movie about what it was like to study abroad.
5. The guard at the Sorbonne today (where I talk myself in everyday because I don't have an ID) told me I spoke very good French. This simple compliment left me floating on air.
Bedtime! All the cold is finally getting to me...I hope I don't tomber malade! (get sick)